What makes people move from one city or region to another? This question sparked a study released this month by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).
The AHURI research looked at why people move between urban and regional Australia, and identified the social, economic, demographic and policy factors driving these population shifts. Key findings included:
– Since 2007, more people have moved away from capital cities than to them (with the exception of 2013). The number of people moving to capital cities peaked in 2016.
– People aged 65 and over were more likely to leave cities, while those aged 16–25 were more likely to move to capital cities.
– People leaving cities had higher household wealth and income compared with those moving to cities. Since 2014, more people from top income groups have been moving out, a trend that began before the COVID-19 pandemic.
– Most people (about 70%) moving to capital cities rent privately. In contrast, more people leaving cities become homeowners. Around 38% of those moving from cities own or are paying off a home, compared to 23% of those moving to cities.
Why are people moving? Employment is a key reason people move to cities, for more than one in four (28%) respondents. This was followed closely by personal reasons (25%), then lifestyle (15%). Health was the least common reason (3%).
Not surprisingly, the reasons were almost reversed for those moving away from the cities, to the country regions. Again, more than a quarter (28%) of respondents moved for lifestyle and personal reasons (25%), followed by housing (21%) and employment (20%).
Employment was a reason to move for both groups, but with different motivations:
– 27% of city arrivals and 20% of city leavers moved to start a new job
– 11% of those moving to cities wanted to be closer to work.
Other reasons for moving included housing, lifestyle, education and health.
Understandably, housing was an important motivation for both groups, who shared a desire to get their own place and/or find a larger or better home.
Those moving to cities had greater education motivations (12% vs 3%).
Health was a low priority for both groups.
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